Jayson Tatum stays hot, scores 44 points as Celtics beat Hornets

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Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-101 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.

Tatum, coming off a 54-point performance against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, made 16 of 24 shots from the field and 6 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also made all six free throws.

He was also effective on defense, helping limit the red hot Terry Rozier to just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

The Celtics are looking like a championship contender, having won 15 of their past 17 games as they continue their rise up the Eastern Conference standings.

"Defense, defense, defense — that's been the key," Tatum said.

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) leads a fast break during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, March 9, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Jaylen Brown had 15 points, while Robert Williams chipped in with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Al Horford added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics (40-27), who were in control most of the game.

Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington each had 17 points to lead the Hornets, who fell to 1-12 on the second night of back-to-back games.

It was the second straight night the Hornets have been victimized by a star player on their home court. They allowed Brooklyn's Kyrie Irving to score 50 points in a 132-121 loss on Tuesday night.

"He made six highly contested 3s," Hornets coach James Borrego said of Tatum. "We double-teamed him, we trapped him. He is a hell of a player and is playing as well as anyone